Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress - Drama Series

This is a list of winners of the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series.

Award winners

;1950s
*1952: Helen Hayes -
*1953: no award
*1954: Loretta Young - "The Loretta Young Show"
*1955: no award
*1956: Loretta Young - "The Loretta Young Show"
*1957: no award
*1958: no award
*1959: Loretta Young - "The Loretta Young Show"

;1960s
*1960: no award
*1961: Barbara Stanwyck - "The Barbara Stanwyck Show"
*1962-1965: no award
*1966: Barbara Stanwyck - "The Big Valley"
*1967: Barbara Bain - ""
*1968: Barbara Bain - "Mission: Impossible"
*1969: Barbara Bain - "Mission: Impossible"

;1970s
*1970: Susan Hampshire - "The Forsyte Saga"
*1971: Susan Hampshire - "The First Churchills"
*1972: Glenda Jackson - "Elizabeth R"
*1973: Michael Learned - "The Waltons"
*1974: Michael Learned - "The Waltons"
*1975: Jean Marsh - "Upstairs, Downstairs"
*1976: Michael Learned - "The Waltons"
*1977: Lindsay Wagner - "The Bionic Woman"
*1978: Sada Thompson - "Family"
*1979: Mariette Hartley - "The Incredible Hulk"

;1980s
*1980: Barbara Bel Geddes - "Dallas"
*1981: Barbara Babcock - "Hill Street Blues"
*1982: Michael Learned - "Nurse"
*1983: Tyne Daly - "Cagney and Lacey"
*1984: Tyne Daly - "Cagney and Lacey"
*1985: Tyne Daly - "Cagney and Lacey"
*1986: Sharon Gless - "Cagney and Lacey"
*1987: Sharon Gless - "Cagney and Lacey"
*1988: Tyne Daly - "Cagney and Lacey"
*1989: Dana Delany - "China Beach"

;1990
*1990: Patricia Wettig - "thirtysomething"
*1991: Patricia Wettig - "thirtysomething"
*1992: Dana Delany - "China Beach"
*1993: Kathy Baker - "Picket Fences"
*1994: Sela Ward - "Sisters"
*1995: Kathy Baker - "Picket Fences"
*1996: Kathy Baker - "Picket Fences"
*1997: Gillian Anderson - "The X-Files"
*1998: Christine Lahti - "Chicago Hope"
*1999: Edie Falco - "The Sopranos"

2000s

"'2000: Sela Ward in "Once and Again"
* Lorraine Bracco in "The Sopranos
* Amy Brenneman in "Judging Amy"
* Edie Falco in "The Sopranos"
* Julianna Margulies in "ER"

"'2001: Edie Falco in "The Sopranos"
* Lorraine Bracco in "The Sopranos
* Amy Brenneman in "Judging Amy"
* Marg Helgenberger in ""
* Sela Ward in "Once and Again"

"'2002: Allison Janney in "The West Wing"
* Amy Brenneman in "Judging Amy"
* Frances Conroy in "Six Feet Under"
* Jennifer Garner in "Alias"
* Rachel Griffiths in "Six Feet Under"

"'2003: Edie Falco in "The Sopranos"
* Frances Conroy in "Six Feet Under"
* Jennifer Garner in "Alias"
* Marg Helgenberger in ""
* Allison Janney in "The West Wing"

"'2004: Allison Janney in "The West Wing"
* Edie Falco in "The Sopranos"
* Jennifer Garner in "Alias"
* Mariska Hargitay in ""
* Amber Tamblyn in "Joan of Arcadia"

"'2005: Patricia Arquette in "Medium"
* Glenn Close in "The Shield"
* Frances Conroy in "Six Feet Under"
* Jennifer Garner in "Alias"
* Mariska Hargitay in ""

2006: Mariska Hargitay in '
* Frances Conroy in "Six Feet Under"
* Geena Davis in "Commander in Chief"
* Allison Janney in "The West Wing"
* Kyra Sedgwick in "The Closer"

"'2007: Sally Field in "Brothers & Sisters"
* Patricia Arquette in "Medium"
* Minnie Driver in "The Riches"
* Edie Falco in "The Sopranos"
* Mariska Hargitay in ""
* Kyra Sedgwick in "The Closer"

"'2008: Glenn Close in "Damages"
* Sally Field in "Brothers & Sisters"
* Mariska Hargitay in ""
* Holly Hunter in "Saving Grace"
* Kyra Sedgwick in "The Closer"